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[boxerlewis]

Hello. I have looked in from time to time, but haven't posted. Just thought it is time to get aquainted. I'm 42 and began my nursing career only 2 yrs ago. I was a single mom and felt I had to raise my girls first. I am an LPN working on RN with the assisstance of TCN. I'm currently studing A&P. Heaven help me! I recently moved to Wyoming and am currently working in LTC. It's ok but not really what I want to do. I have almost 2yrs med/surg and love that. Unfortunatly northeast WY doesn't have a lot to offer. I just thought Arkansas was remote. It is beutiful here. The hospitals are very small and all the LTC facilities are hospital owned and operated. I've never seen anything like this. I'm very dissapionted that I must take a course in WY in order for them to recognize my IV skills. I'm thinking of going futher west, maybe there will be more diversity. Any ideas?

[cougarnurse]

Welcome to the site! Sorry to hear that you need to take a course for the State to recognize your IV Skills; however....it happens. Think of it this way: you passed in school, and you will do well this time.

Just to be curious.....If the LTC Facilities are owned by local hospitals, does that mean your residents are sent only to that one particular hospital?

As for moving on.....that is up to you.

[kimmiejs]

Originally Posted by boxerlewis

Hello. I have looked in from time to time, but haven't posted. Just thought it is time to get aquainted. I'm 42 and began my nursing career only 2 yrs ago. I was a single mom and felt I had to raise my girls first. I am an LPN working on RN with the assisstance of TCN. I'm currently studing A&P. Heaven help me! I recently moved to Wyoming and am currently working in LTC. It's ok but not really what I want to do. I have almost 2yrs med/surg and love that. Unfortunatly northeast WY doesn't have a lot to offer. I just thought Arkansas was remote. It is beutiful here. The hospitals are very small and all the LTC facilities are hospital owned and operated. I've never seen anything like this. I'm very dissapionted that I must take a course in WY in order for them to recognize my IV skills. I'm thinking of going futher west, maybe there will be more diversity. Any ideas?

If you truly like the area I would go ahead and take the course. In the end the more education that you have the better off you will be.

[Aaron C.]

A lot of places require some additional courses for LPN's to be IV certified.

I believe (don't hold me to it) that LPN's in Oklahoma can start IV's from day one however they must be under direct supervision of an RN and after starting X number of IV's successfully, then they are IV certified and can then start IV's without having an RN present.